.png)
Future Interstate 42
In May 2016, the US Highway 70 Corridor from the Town of Garner, NC to Morehead City, NC was designated as future Interstate 42. This designation includes the portion of US Highway 70 adjacent to the the town limits and extraterritorial planning jurisdiction (ETJ) of the Town of Princeton. NCDOT announced in early October 2017 that it has begun planning and environmental studies between the Goldsboro Bypass and just east of Pondfield Road in Princeton.
The N.C. Department of Transportation is proposing to upgrade U.S. 70 to interstate standards from the U.S. 70 Goldsboro Bypass in Wayne County to west of Pondfield Road (S.R. 2314) in Johnston County. The project will upgrade approximately 6.7 miles of U.S. 70 to an interstate facility with interchanges at designated locations. Driveway and intersection connections to existing U.S. 70 will be removed, and service roads will be added to provide access and to ensure mobility for local traffic.
The project will not be providing additional through lanes along U.S. 70, but will include widening the median and outside paved shoulders. This is one of several projects that the N.C. Department of Transportation is working on to improve the U.S. 70 Corridor. It is intended to improve regional mobility and provide better connectivity between Raleigh and Morehead City.
For up-to-date project information from NCDOT, click here.
For public hearing concept maps, click here.
STUDY AREA MAP
.jpg)
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
For funding purposes, the project has been divided into two segments. The two segments are being planned and designed together, while right of way acquisition and construction will be completed in two stages:
Segment A extends from the Goldsboro Bypass to west of N. Pearl Street/Edwards Road (S.R. 2372). Construction on this segment is scheduled to begin in 2023.
Two interchanges are proposed in Segment A:
One interchange is proposed in the vicinity of Capps Bridge Road (S.R. 1234) and Ebenezer Church Road (S.R. 1234) in Wayne County; and
One interchange is proposed on the east side of the Town of Princeton in Johnston County.
Segment B extends from west of N. Pearl Street/Edwards Road to west of Pondfield Road (S.R. 2314). Construction on this segment is not currently scheduled.
One interchange is proposed in Segment B.
The interchange is proposed on the western side of the Town of Princeton, in Johnston County.
PROJECT STATUS
NCDOT is in the beginning planning stage. This phase of project development includes the evaluation of
- traffic
- cultural resources
- congestion
- natural resources
- the human environment
- roadway options, and
- other issues in the project study area
NCDOT is studying potential impacts to people in the communities, the natural environment, and other factors as part of the alternative development process, with the intent to minimize impacts whenever possible. After these preliminary studies are complete and existing conditions defined, we can better determine alternatives to study further and present to the public and regulatory agencies for comment.
A State Environmental Assessment (EA) will document the impacts of the project and will address the concerns that were expressed by the public and others during the planning process. The EA and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) document are anticipated for completion in May 2018.